Advocates Urge Action to End Legal, Economic and Social Barriers Facing Formerly Incarcerated People

Advocates Urge Action to End Legal, Economic and Social Barriers Facing Formerly Incarcerated People 

ENDPP.ORG held Annual Membership Assembly to adopt legislative platform, urge those impacted by the criminal justice system to vote 


CHICAGO—Members of the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments (ENDPP.ORG) gathered in Hyde Park for their annual meeting on Saturday, calling on elected officials to advance policies that would end the legal, economic and social barriers facing people who have completed their prison sentences, also known as permanent punishments.


Coalition members adopted a legislative platform that includes full funding of Clean Slate, which automates the sealing of eligible records; creation of the Permanent Punishments Review Task Force to study Illinois’ permanent punishment laws and recommend changes to the General Assembly; and passage of Home for Good, which aims to create a comprehensive statewide strategy to improve housing and support services for people returning from prison.


More than 600 attendees gathered for the day’s events, which also included a Parade to the Polls in partnership with Chicago Votes to encourage people who have completed their prison sentence to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Illinois’ Constitution guarantees that the right to vote is restored to a person upon completion of their sentence. The Parade to the Polls was led by Dwatia Tolefree from the Logan Center for the Arts to the Bessie Coleman Branch Library, which is an early voting site.


“For ten years after my return from prison, I didn’t know I had the right to vote, and I don't want anyone else to unintentionally give up their voting rights,” said Dwatia Tolefree, a member of Fully Free’s Westside chapter. “People returning from prison may feel uninformed, overlooked, or unsure if their vote makes a difference, and my goal is to make sure people know their rights and know that their voice matters.”


"Forgiveness isn't a reward for the unbroken; it's a bridge for those who have been harmed," said Marvin Alexis, community organizer and Certified Peer Educator with Chicago Votes. "They deserve a future too. People who are or have been incarcerated are not defined by the worst day of their lives, but rather by the chance to change."


Additional activities included community art projects, panel discussions, and storytelling from people directly impacted by permanent punishments. Participating groups included Restore Justice Foundation, Reparations Media, Women’s Justice Institute, Teamwork Englewood, Sisters by Love, and Target Area Development.


“Once somebody has successfully completed their sentence, they shouldn’t have to continually face state-sanctioned barriers that make it difficult to find jobs, stable housing, education, and other opportunities. That’s why we are working with policy makers across the state to spur meaningful change, which will build stronger communities for all,” said Marlon Chamberlain, Founding Executive Director of ENDPP.ORG. “By working together, we are affirming the strength of our collective voice to help people break free of these discriminatory systems.”


Rep. Michael Crawford, D-Chicago, and Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, also received awards for their work advancing policies to help end permanent punishments. Crawford is the House sponsor of the End Permanent Punishment Review Task Force bill and a chief co-sponsor of Home for Good, and Johnson is the Senate sponsor of both Home for Good and the End Permanent Punishment Review Task Force bill. Both bills passed the House this Spring and may be voted on by the Senate during the fall veto session.


“I have seen the impact the barriers formally incarcerated individuals experience, and I know putting an end to these permanent punishments requires legislative change,” said Rep. Michael Crawford, D-Chicago. “I am honored to be recognized as a part of this change, and I will continue to be a legislative champion for these issues at the Capitol.”


“In my time in the Senate I’ve been committed to making life better for my constituents, and that includes the people returning from prison,” said Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove. “No one should be saddled with a lifetime of consequences after paying their debt to society, and I will continue to support legislation to ease the reentry process and support the communities who need it most.”


ENDPP.ORG has launched Fully Free chapters across the state, from Chicago to central and southern Illinois, with a goal to reach 20 Illinois counties by 2029. For information on forming a local chapter, visit www.endpermanentpunishments.org.


About Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments

The Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments (ENDPP) works with people directly impacted by the criminal legal system to come together, build a movement, and lead and implement advocacy campaigns to end the impact of a criminal record following people long after incarceration. The pillars of leadership development, organizing, and communication assist people across Illinois in overcoming collateral consequences of incarceration, including economic, legal, and societal barriers. For more information, visit https://www.endpermanentpunishments.org/.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Civic and Chicago Politics